Spanish Health Authorities Advise Safe Storage of Holiday Leftovers to Prevent Foodborne Illness
Spain's health authorities recommend proper refrigeration and freezing practices for holiday leftovers to prevent foodborne illnesses.
- • Leftovers should be refrigerated in clean containers if consumed the next day or frozen at -18 ºC for later use.
- • Foods should not remain unrefrigerated for more than two hours.
- • Store fresh products like meat, fish, and vegetables separately in the lower fridge section.
- • Divide leftovers into small portions and label frozen containers with details to maintain safety.
Key details
As the holiday season concludes, Spain's General Directorate of Public Health has issued important recommendations to ensure the safe storage of cooked food leftovers, aiming to prevent foodborne illnesses. According to the Food Safety Service, leftovers should be promptly refrigerated in clean containers if they are to be consumed the next day. If intended for later use, these should be frozen at -18 ºC in small portions, labeled with the food name, freezing date, and portion size to maintain safety and ease of use.
The guidelines stress that foods must not be left unrefrigerated for more than two hours to avoid bacterial growth. Moreover, fresh items like meat, fish, and vegetables should be stored separately in the lower part of the refrigerator to prevent cross-contamination.
Signs of a compromised cold chain—such as ice crystals, hardened blocks, soft spots, or damaged packaging—could indicate reduced food safety, and consumers are urged to be vigilant. The Public Health Service advises dividing leftovers into smaller portions to facilitate reheating and discourage multiple reheats, which can degrade food quality and safety.
Citizens seeking further guidance can contact the Food Safety and Nutrition Service through their official website. These measures highlight Spain's proactive approach towards public health during the festive season, ensuring that celebrations do not come at the expense of food safety.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
